Gov’t respects media freedom in PH: PCOO chief

The head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said the government will continue to respect media freedom in the country as the Philippines joins the international community in observing World Press Freedom Day.

Among the efforts to prove this is the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security or PTFoMS, approved and signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the first month of his term, Andanar said.

The PTFoMS was created through Administration Order 01 to address media killings and harassments.

For the part of the PCOO, he said the agency would continue campaigning against disinformation and the proliferation of fake news.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993.

In his message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored that a free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development, and human rights.

“No democracy is complete without access to transparent and reliable information. It is the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions, holding leaders accountable and speaking truth to power,” he said. (PNA)